Atomic radiation

Malignant neoplasm of the lung - Atomic radiation Factor

RMA definition

The RMA defines atomic radiation as "ionising radiation excluding:

(1)  natural background radiation;

(2)  therapeutic radiation; and

(3)  radiation from diagnostic procedures."

Exposure to atomic radiation during VEA service

Australian service personnel with known atomic radiation exposure are:

• POW(J)s who were in the Nagasaki area on 9 August 1945.
• Personnel who served in or visited Hiroshima in connection with the occupation of Japan by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force from February 1946.
• Members of the defence forces who were involved in the British Nuclear Tests (BNT) Program in Australia between 1952 and 1963.

There are no other groups of Australian service personnel with eligible VEA service who have known service-related atomic radiation exposure.

There may also be other individual service personnel who contend exposure to atomic radiation during service covered by the VEA.  Such claims should be investigated on their merits.

Further information about atomic radiation is contained in SOP Bulletin No. 106 - Atomic Radiation and SOP Bulletin No. 145 – Atomic Radiation– Update British Nuclear Test Participants.

Last reviewed for CCPS 18 July 2007.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [3838]

30275 there is some evidence that atomic radiation may be a factor in the development of the condition under consideration.

31702  the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and VEA service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

31703   the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and operational service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

or

31704   the veteran has established the causal connection between atomic radiation and eligible service for the clinical onset of malignant neoplasm of the lung.

Clinical onset and operational service [31703]

31705 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung at some time.

31706 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung where this dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

34300 operational service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung where this dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31707 the cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.05 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung, to which operational service made a material contribution and the dose was accumulated at least five years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

Clinical onset and eligible service [31704]

31708 the veteran has received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung at some time.

31710 the veteran received a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung where this dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31709 eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran receiving a cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung where this dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

31711 the cumulative equivalent dose of at least 0.5 Sievert of atomic radiation to the lung, to which eligible service made a material contribution and the dose was accumulated at least ten years before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.